M"USIC AND ART IV SIX PAGES PART SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 1021 PART IV SIX PAGES rG and i eoole J-T-aurLcTzne (D.m / .To. __.o_v ~p/rtrpo. <tnj Js<a.ied \Yz?Aer>js ufeop/e. WHrrc Sy-uo'O As We Were Saying. By Heywood Broun 'HE men and women who 3igh for the good old days of the theater are perfectly saf© only just so long as none of the good old plays are produced and none of the good old actors seen. It is reassur- ing to the present generation to find that the folk who talk so much of great Shakespearian actors, dead and gone, are pining for a school rather closely exemplifted by Walter Hampden's Macbeth. Even before the coming of this evidence we had suspected that what¬ ever the merits of the departed stars we would not be trained nor ready for their methods. But until- last week we were overawed by one boast Pr 77 ^ of veteran playgoers. We were willing to believe that twenty or thirty years ago musical comedies were ever so much funnier than those of JJiejtlar'IecruzTicicLe' to-day. lt seemed that it must be so. It Is Great To Be Short Memoried A2A Now "The Belle of New York" has been produced in a revised version hJza~R? _r_?2_. ealled "The Whirl of New York," and there seems to be room for doubt. Tne part of the polite lunatic has often been mentioned by old theatergoers is the sort of thing which was no longer to be seen in the musical show of to-day. Certainly, then, it is great to be young and short memoried. The L±<zyx.e*£sr. _. part, as played by Louis Mann, is one of the most dreary experiences .v?.r £?.' SC*nryr*i z. ever The which assailed the patience cf a theatergoer. We are inclined to /"/W/fc* London Situation blanie Mr. Mann a little, He seemed to be confident that the role was amusing, and drew it out to cndless lengths. He even tried to make it appealing and built up an exit for himself. Yet, admitting all this, it Financial and Coal Strike is difficult to see what anybody could have done to make the part tolerable. Depression The whole notion that insanity is sidesplitting is among the old beliefs Force Econoniy Among which can well be spared. Hereafter we shall listen more tolerantly to the jokes about prohibition and blue Sunday. Not all of them are funny, Tlieatergoers to be sure, but at least there is nothing poignant in their lack of humor. From Tha Tribune't European Bureau Having said so much of the caliber of musical comedy books of a day fi£r/ptrtojn.cL LONDON, May t*. that is gone, it ia only fair to admit that a certain sprightlinesa of ITH many important West End theatres closed and with half* libretto may have departed. The numbers revived from "The Belle of ictodk^ empty houses where plays aro still running, London theatricaj New York" are distinctly better than the average of our day. "Follow managers admit that the snmmer theater season here haa On" seems to us a better song than any which this season has produced, collapsed and that there is at present little hope of an im¬ and "The Belle of New York" itself is livelier than the general run of provement in the situation. tunes in the newer shows. On the whole, the Shuberts have done well The causes of the condition are ohvious. The most immediate in¬ with the musical numbers, new and old, in the present Winter Garden fluence is that of the coal strike, which, in addition to forcing a general production. This chorus sings somewhat. Dorothy Ward, who seemed a economy upon all people, has so restricted transportation facilities that fioubrette in a china shop when called upon to play a Barrie heroine in suburban or country dwelling people find it impossible to come into town "Phcebe of Quality Street," is amazingly better with a runway on which <z x__-__-< for an evening at the theater. The train service has been curtailed until to roam. She needs room for her elbows and her knees. Decidedly, she JV_-C*-0~-) only the most essential trains are run, and these are all crowded. There is no little theater prima donna. are fewer trams than before, and the last trains oh tha metropolitan dis¬ A Sense of P&ce and Excitement trict railway and other London subway services now are run at 11:45 m., thus But her methods are of the most she one p. eliminating after-the-theater supper parties or at tha though obvious, possesses clubs. dancing rare in the theater to be hailed with enthusiasm. night quality enough She Behind this has the sense of and excitement which works for the success of superficial and temporary cause, however, is the mora" pace & $ serious fact of England's financial Popular numbers. It is the same faculty which makes Eddie Cantor i§>tage <§oMp Itye Jleto -paps depression. Taxes are extremely high, work is scarce and wages are ¦and Al Jolson interesting. Blanche Ring used to have it to an amazing poor. Profits have gone out of many indus¬ T tries. The average Englishman cannot afford to buv theater degree. Hearing "I've got rings on my fingers and bells on my toes" ence (3* THE benefit for the Service Club gathering together ta make the enter- fiS* NOTHER of tho real summer by George Marion, all under the per¬ tickets, which for now cost from $1.75 to $-i in the West End. But seemed an experience something likelisteningto election returne or g~l soldiers and sailors and dis¬ tainment a tremendous success and a X~S shows will open Tuesday night sonal supervision of Mr. Ziegfeld. while audiences ar« getting abled scanty, the expenses of theater a play by play story of 'a football game from a man with a megaphone. veterans, to be given at the f.tting tribute to his memory. when Florenz Ziegfeld presents There are some twenty scenes in the operating have increased. It would now Casino Theater Ethel cost almost $1,000,000 to build a theate* wM made you feel that something fearfully important was said. to-night, Barry- the 1921 edition of his -'Follies." This show, designed and painted by Joseph that could have been construeted being more will receive a which for ten Sfca herself was so unique gift, Chrystal Hearn to Play ia standby of the musical show-goers' Urban. Ben Ali Haggin ha3 made a $250,000 years ago. Theater rentals are high, and at the Garrick obviously carried away by the message that the she will accept for the entire thcatrical two "Count X" spectator could sit still and remain aloof. Her "The Elton Case" world will not be found in its usual picture entitled "The Follies of 1921. plays, and "Mis' Nell, o' New Orleans," are the hardly songs don't fizz profession, acting as custodian for the same occupying so Alice Brady, accompanied her home, the New Amsterdam Theater, Raymond Hitchcock is among the stars playhouse, "Mis' Nell" giving matinee and "Count X" much any more. The life of a high horsepowered singer is almost gift until a suitable permanent by evening per- place husband, James L. Crane, has sailed but will open at the Globe. It is said in the production. A number of vaude¬ formances. Added to all these expenses are the a short one. Sooner or later, to each ore must come a moment of can be decided upon. This is a increased wages of actors *jways gift for on a which will include that "Sally" has continued so great in ville teams of the first water are also stagehands and mechanicians in medal made from a Europe trip and the high cost of all theatrical disillusion which she asks herself: "What's all the shouting for?" There fragment of steel rest and business. It is popularity that Mr. Ziegfeld was forced billed to appear, as well as dancers, matel that was probable that rials. In the case of road companies and vaudeville isn't any answer to the question, and after asking it she can never again part of the battleship Maine, the Famous to find another house for the "Follies." who will offer variety to the produc¬ performers, rail trans¬ to sunk in Havana harbor. The medal Players-Lasky Corporation portation ia another big factor. *..¦-___ °,uite the same. will make a motion with her in tion. commemorates the splendid work for picture The "Ziegfeld Follies" was first pre- As a result of ..this condition the such bad times as during the last. Ireland, founded on one of Dion Bou- and has seven disabled and sick soldiers that was car¬ aented in New York in 1907 Backed producer is faced with lmmediate weeks. cicault's famous plays, the scenes of Negro Play What's B>hat in ried on by the late Frank Carter, the developed intc something of an institu¬ By Medical Review financial disaster unless his play is a Two plays will close thia week. Jleto iorfe Cfieaters which are laid in and about the Lakes to tremendous succeas. youn<* actor vho was killed a tion. The management likes describe It is impossible "Chu Chin ^IBASSADOR."Dumbells" in "Biff! Bing! Bang!" year ago of Killarney and Blarney Castle. She The organization which several years Chow," which has been1 in an automobile accident.